Sex, Honestly

I just returned from a three inspirational days at CatalystCon East, which founder Dee Dennis describes as a “melting pot of sexuality” that brings together sex educators, sexologists, sex workers, writers, activists, people in the adult industry and others seeking to create change. I was changed by the experience, not only in terms of the knowledge I gleaned and shared, but also in terms of conversations I engaged in, the...

Coping with Cancer magazine, which is ubiquitous in oncologists’ offices and cancer care centers, recently ran an article of mine on reclaiming intimacy during and after cancer treatment. I’ve pasted the introduction here, and I encourage you to read it if you’ve experienced cancer first-hand or as the partner of someone who has. One Step at a Time: Reclaiming Intimacy after Cancer By Melanie Davis, PhD You may have...

When I speak to people with cancer, I listen to their sexuality concerns, ask what kind of help they seek, and offer several solutions with which they can experiment. After reading an article in the LA Times by Susan Silk and Barry Goldman (April 7, 2013), I have another tool to offer them. Silk, a clinical psychologist, developed a model she refers to as the Ring Theory that illustrates communication boundaries that can be useful to...

When I was a kid, I was in Camp Fire and spent many happy years learning skills in camping, outdoor cooking, knot tying, crafts, and group projects. Two of my now-adult daughters were in Girl Scouts for a few years, while their older sister enjoyed Model United Nations throughout high school and college. No one asked about their sexual orientation, and we never inquired about their adult leaders’ sexual orientation. These...

Join a discussion on gynecological cancer and sexuality from 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2013 in the Brady Shinn Board Room (Level B) of Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ. Admission is free; all women are welcome. I’ll be presenting with Yana Goldberg, MD, Radiation Oncologist, and Nana Tchabo, MD, Gynecological Oncologist. They will discuss the medical effects of cancer on the body and on sexuality. I will discuss...

In early December, I was honored to participate in the first Summit on Medical Education in Sexual Health, which brought together experts in medical education, sexual health, and sexuality education to address physicians’ inability to adequately provide sexual healthcare and education to patients. The two-day event included a work session during which participants developed guidelines for Medical School Education in Sexual...